Sport no different to society

American President Donald Trump, or 45 as he is often referred to as the 45th President, can't seem to help himself.

Put a microphone in front of him and, after adjusting the microphone, he sets out to fill a space with meanderings that border on the reckless more often than not - and that was before the onset of the global pandemic – but his latest ramblings have involved the sports industry.

It's commonly acknowledged that everything he talks about has more to do with his re-election campaign which the pandemic has stopped in its tracks, than with what might be best for the citizens he represents.

According to the attached link to an article by one of the few American sports columnists able to look at issues from a global perspective, Dave Zirin, he has been talking with male sports officials about getting sport up and running as soon as possible.

Zirin said Trump's phone call with sports commissions was 'negligent, if not deadly.'

Trump said he believed the NFL season should start in September and he wanted fans back in arenas 'whenever we're ready'.

Having that happen by September would fit nicely in with the run-in to the November election with subsequent benefits from the feel-good factor for Trump.

But as Zirin points out so well, all of the discussion neglected to consider one key fact – the players.

Let's not forget that Trump is not beyond sticking his nose into the sports business by putting pressure on owners of teams to sack players who operate outside the sort of square that Trump would like to see them barricaded into. Think Colin Kaepernick.

Yet, the player unions were not represented in his communications with the commissioners of sports. No surprises there since when has player welfare, or welfare of any sort, been of concern for Trump.

Zirin also calls out the compliant American media for not holding Trump to account.

"In so many respects, Trump's cavalier attitude about resuming pro sport reflects his approach to the entire virus. He's pushing a great deal of false hope, not backed by science, and designed more to win a news cycle with thoughts of a Sugarcandy Mountain of sports constructed on the backs of our disposable athletic heroes. It also reflected through our sports media the ways in which the mainstream media, with some notable exceptions, have failed to hold this president to account."

Zirin said the media failed to call out the lies and failed in their duty to take the line that sport would return when society returned. The virus was setting the timeline, not the fanciful wishes of those who should know better.

Read Dave Zirin's column here